A newly built £32 million park and ride facility in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, will remain empty for the next few years after proposals for temporary uses were rejected by the county council. Despite being completed in 2024, the 850-space site will not become operational until 2027 due to delays in connecting infrastructure and cost-related setbacks.

The site was funded through a ring-fenced grant and constructed on time and within budget. However, the planning application to link it to the nearby A40 was only submitted in July, delayed by cost pressures tied to high inflation. The rest of the A40 improvement scheme has been temporarily paused.

In the interim, local residents and businesses had proposed various temporary uses for the dormant facility, such as cycle training programs, a bus depot, or a testing ground for autonomous vehicles. The council, however, cited logistical constraints, high insurance and planning costs, and limited accessibility as reasons for rejecting all proposals.

Alternative suggestions, including recreational events like parkruns, were also considered but ultimately turned down. A task and finish group from Oxfordshire County Council concluded that mothballing the site was the best way to protect it from damage or deterioration while awaiting full operation.

A spokesperson explained that the potential revenue from temporary activities did not justify the additional staffing, legal, and infrastructure costs required to make the site commercially viable in the short term.

Until the necessary A40 connections are in place and the full transport scheme is completed, the park and ride will remain closed—despite being structurally ready for use.